HL Options: Depth Studies - History of Asia and Oceania

1: Trade and exchange: The Silk Road in the medieval world (750-1500)

• The Silk Road under the Tang dynasty

• Connecting west and east: interregional trade; travellers and explorers; merchants; missionaries and pilgrims; Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo

• Increase in trade under the Mongol Empire: role of Mongol expansion and empire in re-establishing and increasing trade; establishment of political centres of the Mongol Empire; Tamerlane; Samarkand

• Political and cultural integration: connection of previously isolated nomadic societies; political unification of zones

• Cultural interaction and exchange: transmission of religious ideas and art

• Decline in the 15th century: causes of decline; rise in seaborne trade; fragmentation and loosening of political, cultural and economic unity after the end of the Mongol Empire

2: Japan in the Age of the Samurai (1180-1333)

• The Gempei War (1180–1185) and the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate

• The expanding role of the samurai under Minamoto; rising military and economic power; replacement of court government with the samurai; role in developing law

• Struggles between samurai clans

• Establishment of the first samurai-dominated government; declining power of the emperor

• Samurai life: samurai ethos/ethical code or “Bushido”—the way of the warrior; focus on group loyalty and discipline; influence of Buddhism; samurai weapons and armour; the role of samurai women

• Impact of the samurai on Japanese society and culture

• The Mongol invasions of Japan and the kamikaze storms (1274 and 1281)

3: Exploration, trade and interaction in East Asia and South-East Asia (1405-1700)

• China “looking out”: Chinese shipbuilding programme; “treasure ships”; construction of an imperial fleet; the voyages of Zheng He (Cheng Ho); increased overseas trade

• Japan “looking out”: trade links established with Portugal (1543); arrival of traders from other European countries; missionaries

• The significance and impact of the beginnings of Indo-European trade: Vasco da Gama (1498); the capture of Malacca (1511); Magellan’s journey (1519)

• Reasons for, and impact of, the expeditions, and nature of the settlements, of the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch and British; impact of European settlements on the indigenous people; social, religious and cultural exchange; demographic and territorial changes

• China “turning in”: increased Chinese isolationism; isolationist policies; restrictions on ships, including destruction of ocean-going ships (1525)

• Japan “turning in”: Japanese isolationism in the 17th century; sakoku (closed country policy) restrictions on foreigners entering Japan and Japanese leaving Japan; strict regulations on trade and commerce; creation of four “gateways”

• Social, political and economic impact of isolation on China and Japan

4: The rise and fall of the Mughal Empire (1526-1712)

• Origins and rise of Mughal power: Babur and Humayun

• Consolidation of Mughal rule in the subcontinent: domestic, military, religious, economic and cultural policies

• Significance of individual rulers for the Mughal Empire: Akbar, Shah Jahan I and Aurangzeb

• Impact of religious cooperation and conflict in the Mughal Empire

• Reasons for, and effects of, domestic opposition

• Social, cultural and economic achievements

• Role of internal and external forces in the decline of the Mughal Empire

5: Colonialism and the development of nationalism in South-East Asia (c1750-1914)

• Political structure and the economic, social and cultural effects of the Dutch colonial system in Indonesia: culture system; liberal policy; decline of the Dutch East India Company (VOC); increasing Dutch state control and the introduction of the Ethical Policy (1901)

• Political structure and the economic, social and cultural effects of the French colonial system in Indo-China: factors that led to the formation of French Indo-China (1887)

• Political structure and the economic, social and cultural effects of the Spanish colonial system in the Philippines: Philippine Revolution (1896); significance of Rizal, Bonifacio and Aguinaldo

• The Philippines and the United States: Spanish-American War (1898); colonial rule by the United States

• The beginnings of nationalism in Indonesia, Philippines and Indo-China

• Siamese monarchy; internal and external factors that maintained independence; Rama IV (Mongkut), Rama V (Chulalongkorn)

6: India, Afghanistan and Burma (1750-1919)

• Expansion of the British East India Company: Battle of Plassey (1757); Anglo-Maratha Wars; Anglo-Mysore Wars

• Economic, social and cultural effects of the British colonial system in India; role of the British East India Company (1773–1857); impact of the policies of Dalhousie and Bentinck

• Causes of the Great Revolt (Indian Mutiny) of 1857; political, social and economic consequences of the Great Revolt

• Key developments 1858–1914: Government of India Act 1858; the partition of Bengal (1905); the Morley–Minto reforms of 1909; outbreak of the First World War; social and economic impact of the British Raj

• Development and significance of constitutional groups; growth of national consciousness; Indian National Congress (1885) and the All India Muslim League (1906)

• Afghanistan: Russo-British rivalry; “The Great Game”; North-West frontier; First, Second and Third Anglo-Afghan Wars; policies of the Afghan monarchy; resistance to British influence

• Burma: King Mindon; King Thibaw; reasons for loss of independence; First, Second and Third Anglo-Burmese Wars; economic, social and cultural effects of the British colonial system in Burma; rise of resistance and nationalism

7: Challenges to traditional East Asian societies (1700-1868)

• The nature and structure of imperial rule under the Qing dynasty; Qianlong

• Causes and effects of internal challenges; White Lotus Rebellion

• The Chinese tribute system and western trade missions

• Causes and consequences of the First and Second Opium Wars; the unequal treaties

• Taiping (Taip’ing) Rebellion: reasons for the rise and fall; consequences for Chinese society

• The Tokugawa Shogunate’s rule in Japan: economic and social structure

• Internal challenges; social and economic changes and reasons for discontent

• Commodore Perry’s expedition and the crisis of the Bakumatsu period (1853–1868); reasons for the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate

8: British colonialism and emerging national identities in Oceania (1788-1919)

• Indigenous societies and the impact of early colonial settlements; Treaty of Waitangi (1840)

• Settlement schemes; immigration to Australia and New Zealand; early colonial settlements; land distribution; pastoral society; squatters and the Selection Acts

• Reasons for, and impact of, tensions between indigenous people and the settlers

• Social and economic impact of the gold rushes; growth of cities; emergence of the labour movement

• Constitutional developments; growth of national identity; the federation movement; National Australasian Conventions; the achievement of dominion status in Australia (1901) and New Zealand (1907)

• Political, social and economic impact of the First World War on Australia and New Zealand; Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs); significance of Gallipoli

• The nature and impact of British administration in the Pacific Islands

9: Early modernization and imperial decline in East Asia (1860-1912)

• Tongzhi restoration and Self-Strengthening Movement (1861–1894); Cixi

• Impact of defeat in the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895); Guangxu and the Hundred Days’ Reform (1898)

• Boxer Rebellion (1900–1901); the late Qing reforms

• Sun Yixian and the causes of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution; the reasons for its failure

• Meiji restoration (1868) in Japan; the 1889 Constitution

• Social, cultural and economic developments in Meiji Japan

• The rise of Japanese military power; victory in the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)

• Korean isolation: Queen Min; opening (1876); Tonghak Rebellion (1894); Japanese annexation (1910)

10: Nationalism and independence in India (1919-1964)

• Impact of the First World War: demands for Home Rule

• Significance of key political developments, including Amritsar massacre (1919); Government of India Act 1919; Simon Commission (1928); Round Table Conferences (1930–1932); response to Government of India Act 1935

• Role and importance of key groups and individuals: Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League; Gandhi; Jawaharlal Nehru; Jinnah

• Struggle for independence; non-cooperation movement; civil disobedience campaigns; Salt March (1930); Quit India campaign (1942)

• Growth of Muslim separatism; “Two-Nation” theory; Lahore Resolution (1940)

• Impact of the Second World War: Chandra Bose; the Cripps Mission (1942); weakening of British power; Mountbatten; achievement of independence; reasons for the partition of the South Asian subcontinent (1947)

• Post-independence India: ethnic and religious conflicts; princely states; Kashmir; successes and failures of Nehru’s domestic policies

11: Japan (1912-1990)

• The impact of the First World War and the post-war conferences

• Taisho democracy: the growth of liberal values and the two-party system

• Reasons for, and impact of, the rise of militarism and extreme nationalism: increasing influence of the army in politics; political coups and assassinations

• Invasions of Manchuria (1931) and China (1937), and impact on relations with the West; Three Party/ Tripartite Pact (1940); US embargo (1940)

• Japan and the Pacific War (1941–1945): decision to attack Pearl Harbor; initial successes; reasons for defeat

• The US occupation (1945–1952): social, political and cultural changes; the reverse course (1950)

• Reasons for Japan’s “economic miracle”; social, cultural and economic impact of globalization

12: China and Korea (1910-1950)

• Rise of national identity in China: Yuan Shikai; Sun Yixian; 21 Demands (1915); new culture movement; Treaty of Versailles (1919); May Fourth movement (1919); effects of warlordism

• Nationalist rule of China: Guomindang leadership and ideology; Jiang Jieshi; successes and failures of domestic policy during the Nanjing decade (1927–1937)

• Rise of communism in China: Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology; First United Front; Shanghai massacre (1927); Yan’an; Jiangxi Soviet; Long March; Mao Zedong

• Impact of Japanese invasion of China; Manchuria (1931); Second United Front; Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945); Chinese Civil War (1946–1949); nature of conflict; reasons for communist victory

• Impact of Japanese rule of Korea: social, political and economic effects of annexation (1910); impact of the Sino-Japanese War on Korea: Japanese use of forced labour, conscription and comfort women; division of Korea at 38th parallel (1945); Syngman Rhee; Kim Il-Sung

• Taiwan and Republic of China (ROC): nature of Jiang Jieshi’s rule: martial law (1949); White Terror (1950); beginnings of Taiwanese independence movement

13: Impact of the world wars on South-East Asia

• Impact of the First World War; Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• Reasons for, and effects of, initial Japanese victories in South-East Asia (1940–1942)

• The nature and impact of Japanese occupation

• Growth of nationalism and role of independence movements during the war in Dutch East Indies/Indonesia; Vietnam; Malaya: resistance and collaboration

• Emergence and influence of leaders: Sukarno; Ho Chi Minh; Tunku Abdul Rahman

• The reasons for Indonesian independence (1949)

• Case study on one country in South-East Asia (other than one already named in this section): political, social and economic effects of the First World War and the Second World War

14: The People’s Republic of China (1949-2005)

• Consolidation of the communist state (1949–1961) under Mao Zedong; key policies; land reforms; rectification campaigns; Hundred Flowers campaign (1956)

• Transition to socialism; successes and failures in economic developments (1949–1961); First Five-Year Plan; Great Leap Forward; Second Five-Year Plan

• Social developments; women’s rights; health; education

• Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution: causes; Gang of Four; political, social and cultural impact

• Foreign policy and foreign affairs 1949–1976; Sino-American relations; establishment and breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations; China as a regional and global power

• Power struggle following the death of Mao Zedong; Hua Guofeng, the re-emergence of Deng Xiaoping and the defeat of the Gang of Four

• China under Deng Xiaoping (1976–1997); economic developments; Four Modernizations; political developments; causes and effects of Tiananmen Square (1989); Jiang Zemin

15: Cold War conflicts in Asia

• Malaya: Emergency (1948–1960): the Malayan Communist Party (MCP); British/Commonwealth response; nature of conflict; resolution and legacy

• Korea: Korean War (1950–1953): causes; international responses; outcome; economic and political impact on the Korea peninsula

• Vietnam: League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh); Ho Chi Minh; French Indo-China War (1946–1954); Vietnam War (1956–1975): causes; nature of conflict; international involvement; outcome; economic and political effects on Vietnam

• Cambodia: failures of Sihanouk’s rule; Khmer Rouge ideology; Pol Pot; impact of Vietnam War; nature and impact of Khmer Rouge’s regime; invasion by Vietnamese, and civil war; international response; 1993 elections

• Afghanistan: reasons for, and impact of, Soviet invasion (1979); nature of conflict; international involvement; withdrawal of Soviet troops (1989); civil war (1989–1992)

16: Developments and challenges in South Asia after 1947

• Foreign policy and economic developments under Nehru: relationship between India and Pakistan; Indo-Pakistani Wars—1947, 1965, 1971; causes and results; independence of Bangladesh (1971)

• India: social, political and economic developments and challenges under Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Rao

• Pakistan 1947–1991: nation building; social, political and economic developments and challenges; friction between East and West Pakistan; cultural and linguistic differences; constitutional referendum (1991); Jinnah; Ayub Khan; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; Zia-ul-Haq; Benazir Bhutto

• Bangladesh: nation building; social, political and economic developments and challenges

• Ceylon/Sri Lanka: nation building; social, political and economic developments and challenges; conflict between Sinhalese and Tamils; 1971 uprising; civil war; Sirimavo Bandaranaike

17: Developments in Oceania after the Second World War (1945-2005)

• Social and cultural developments; changing role of women; growth of national identity

• Immigration to Australia and New Zealand after the war, and the development of multicultural societies

• Policies and achievements of governments in Australia: Curtin; Chifley; Menzies; Whitlam; Fraser; Hawke/Keating

• Policies and achievements of governments in New Zealand: Fraser; Holyoake; Muldoon; Lange; Bolger

• Attitudes and policies towards indigenous peoples in Australia and New Zealand

• Australia and New Zealand: foreign policy and international alignments

• Economic policies and realignment: Britain joining the EEC (later European Union); the rise of Asian economies

• Reasons for, and results of, the emergence of independent Pacific Island states

18: Social, cultural and economic developments in Asia (excluding China, Japan and India) (1980-2005)

• Impact of globalization: causes and effects of economic growth; technological development; urbanization; demographic changes; changes in standards of living; economic and social impact of the tourist industry

• Immigration/emigration: causes and effects

• Social issues and developments: changes in social structures; gender roles; the environment; education; health reforms; impact of technology on society

• Religion: role of religion in society; religious conflict and tensions

• Cultural change: nature of, and changes, in traditional arts and culture; cultural impact of globalization; nature and role of the media

• Emergence of, and responses to, terrorism